Lip fillers have become increasingly popular over the last several years.
The problem is that these procedures can often be pretty pricy, and end up costing a fair amount. Still, you get what you pay for, and saving your money by going for a slightly cheaper alternative could have disastrous results in the long term.
If you don't believe me, then just look at what happened in Arizona this month, after a number of women were left with horrific lip infections, which left them with cracked, oozing sores and swollen, painful mouths after botched fillers.
According to a recent report by Fox 10 Phoenix, at least seven unfortunate women have been left in pain after making several separate appointments on August 3 at the house of a woman in Maricopa who was charging $80 for fillers - a mere ten percent of the standard price ($620). Within hours of receiving their injections, the customers were left with aching and pus-filled lips, and were quickly rushed to the ER.
Talking to Fox 10 Phoenix in a recent interview, unfortunate patient Alexandra Garaventa stated: "'It was cheaper - that's not the smartest thing - but since I had seen so many people and my friend had been going for a year. She was telling people that she was certified to do lip injections and since I [had] seen other people's [lips], I had decided why not go. Right after I left getting my lips done, an hour later, my lips got huge."
Taking to Facebook, Garaventa later shared a number of pictures of her humungous lips and warned her various followers about the dangers inherent in paying less money for lip fillers from an unlicensed practitioner. Her posts managed to accrue a number of comments from shocked social media users.
Garaventa later posted an emotional status, in which she thanked the general public for their support. She wrote: "I would just like to take the time to say thank you to everyone who has reached out and shown nothing but love && support since our story dropped online and on the news. [sic]"
She continued: "I understand in a situation like this everybody is going to have their own opinion whether it’s good/bad, or negative/positive. But with the amount of love, support, and prayers I have received it pretty much cancels out all the hate that I’ve been reading. [sic]"
She added: "Although, not everyone has the same point of view. I pray that everyone involved has a quick recovery, we are all such beautiful women and did not deserve to have this happen to us. Again, thank you to all that have been sympathetic and sensitive regarding the whole situation. [sic]"
The majority of lip fillers contain a substance primarily composed of a natural substance known as hyaluronic acid. This acid is mixed with sugar molecules to attract moisture to the lips and make them fuller. However, our mouths produce an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which dissolves hyaluronic acid - which is why injections are required regularly. Injections performed using dirty equipment can inevitably lead to infection.
The Maricopa Police department is currently investigating the spate of botched filler procedures, but so far no arrests have been made.
